Crusaders not risking McCaw

 

The sight of openside flank McCaw, 34, being knocked cold in a tackle on Lolagi Visinia during the Crusaders' 29-15 win over the Blues might have created anxiety for All Blacks fans in World Cup year, but the ramifications are more immediate for Todd Blackadder.

 

While McCaw was unconscious for less than a minute, and was on his feet chatting with opposition players after the match at AMI Stadium, Crusaders coach Blackadder said the All Blacks captain requires a swift recovery to play the Hurricanes.

 

"If he's not right, there's no way he will play Richie," Blackadder told Fairfax Media. 

 

"We will wait to see how he's feeling this week and he will to go through the correct procedures and protocols.

 

"That isn't to say he won't be right and he felt pretty good after the game. 

 

"But without absolutely ruling him out, I would say it is probably unlikely. 

 

"He will have to be absolutely right in passing the concussion protocols."

 

Immediately after the incident it appeared McCaw would have a concussion test to determine whether he could keep playing.

 

However Blackadder, after viewing a replay of the incident in the 64th minute, told doctor Deb Robinson he had been knocked out and must be replaced.

 

If McCaw, who attended a medical clinic on Sunday and was described by Blackadder as being in "pretty good" spirits, is forced to miss the Hurricanes game he will be replaced by openside specialist Matt Todd.

 

Although McCaw suffered several concussions earlier in his career, his biggest issues over the last four years have been related to broken bones (thumb, rib and foot).

 

He hasn't suffered a head injury since May 2011, when a head clash forced him to skip a Crusaders match in Cape Town.

 

The most severe concussion McCaw suffered was in 2005; he missed five matches after being knocked out in a tackle on Bulls prop Richard Bands in Pretoria.